U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -
Pacific Region
Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs
Caspian
Tern Management in the Columbia River Estuary - Text
Only Version
Environmental
Impact Statement
The Issue
Recent increases in the number of Caspian Terns nesting
in the Columbia River estuary has led to concerns over their potential impact
on the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead (salmonids).
Caspian terns have nested in the Columbia River estuary since the mid-1980s,
using habitat created by the deposition of dredge spoils on East Sand Island
and Rice Island. Caspian Tern numbers have increased from an estimated 1,000
pairs in 1984 to a peak of 10,000 pairs in 2002. This colony is expected to
grow in size because of an expected recruitment from the high number of fledglings
produced from 2001 to 2003.
Federal and State agencies and non-governmental organizations
have agreed to explore options for restoring, creating, and enhancing nesting
habitat for Caspian terns throughout portions of the Pacific Coast/Western
region (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada), as one means to
reduce and disperse the large tern colony on East Sand Island in the Columbia
River estuary. The potential benefits of this proposed action would reduce
the level of tern predation on out-migrating young salmon (smolts) in the
Columbia River, and lower the vulnerability of a significant portion (70%)
of breeding Caspian terns in the Pacific Coast/Western region to stochastic
events such as predators, human disturbance, storm events, or disease.
About the Project
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps), and NOAA Fisheries have developed a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Caspian Tern management in the Columbia River estuary
to explore options to reduce the level of tern predation on Columbia River
salmonids while insuring the protection and conservation of Caspian Terns
in the Pacific Coast/Western region.